Let's hear it for the boys

Hospitality, how I wish I offered it more. In the current Magnolia Journal there is a whole spread dedicated to opening up your home, throwing down some soup and calling up your friends. Said article is currently hanging on my cork board, and each time I pass it I brainstorm a way we could make it happen. I yearn for it, for space enough to have folks over. We currently maximize all of our 1,200 square feet and I just couldn't envision another family of 4 dropping in for an evening of fun, scratch that chaos that would be a meal at our house. 

I've been lamenting over our current situation this week, lusting after a larger living room, a larger dining room with a table big enough for friends. But as one of our international friends left our house tonight, this blog post came to mind. While I don't have space to feed another family for dinner or host our small group we have had and continue to have space for "the boys". We affectionately call them "boys" because most have been 18-20 years of age. 

We've hosted three different groups of students during our years in Tuscaloosa, this year included. First from Brazil, Germany and Austria and now India. It's been our pleasure to offer meals, games, dessert, and hangouts around town to our guests. 

The great thing about "our boys" is that they're relaxed. They don't mind that my house isn't immaculate, or that my oven and now my house are smoking from the spilled contents or that my children are children in our home. And for that I'm so grateful. This thing I have been lusting after, this opportunity to open our home and provide a meal hasn't come in the most traditional form but it has come nonetheless so let's hear if for the boys. Thank you for coming!

Five months- E

It was more than a little tricky taking your photos today, you are on the move and curious about everything, including today's picture frame. What doesn't go in your mouth? 

Milestone markers include: 

sleeping long stretches, some 12 hrs, bless you!

sleeping through a loud roommate; crying, shouting, climbing out of bed- again bless you! I'm sure this skill with come in handy somewhere down the line as well as now

sampling avocado and sweet potato

trips to both Alaska and Washington

two teeth

rocking on all 4s and moving to a sitting position

So thankful for the joy you bring and the reminder you give me to just roll with it, be it a rambunctious sister, a jet setting father or a sleep deprived mother you are up for it all, all while keeping your cool, thanks little one.